Water-valve.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. REINECKE, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURG WATERHEATER COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WATER-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application filed November 29, 1907. Serial No. 404,231.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN P. REINECKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania,- (his post-office address being 1342 River avenue,Allegheny, Pennsylvania,) have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Water-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to water valves for governing the gas valves asused in what are known as instantaneous heaters. The invention has forits objects; the provision of a valve of this type which has an improvedarrangement of parts and one wherein an effective drainage may besecured; the provision of securing means for the cap wherein deformationof the cylinder casing is avoided when the cap is screwed on tightly;and the provision of an improved arrangement to avoid deformation andconsequent sticking of the operating parts when the device is coupledup. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is an end view of the valve, and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the valve.

The valve is designed for use in connection with what are known asinstantaneous water heaters, wherein the opening of the faucet in theoutlet pipe disturbs the equilibrium of certain operating parts in thewater valve causing Such parts to open the valve controlling the flow ofgas to the burners of the heater, which general operation is well knownin the art. Referring to the general arrangement of parts shown in thedrawings, 1 is the main valve casing, 2 is the cap therefor, 3 is theoperating rod extending to the gas valve, 4 is the operating piston, 5is the spring for moving the operating rod 3 and the piston 4 to theleft, and 6 is the stufiing-box for the rod 3. The main valve casing 1is provided with the inlet passage 7 and the outlet passage 8, and theeasing when in use is designed to occupy the position shown in Figure 2with the inlet or admission pipe 7 down. In order to permit of a flow ofwater from the admission passage to the outlet passage 8 the ports 9 and10 are provided, the port 9 being so located so as to be always open,while the port 10 is open or closed depending upon the position of thepiston 4. The valve casing 1 is provided with the horizontal cylinder 11in which the piston 4 reciprocates, and such cylinder is provided withthe pair of small ports 12 and 13, the port 12 being somewhat smallerthan the port 13. The rod 3 carries at its end the disk 14 whichconstitutes a seat for the end of the spring 5, such spring be ingdesigned to hold the piston in position to close the port 10 when theflow through the outlet 8 is stopped. The valve cap 2 is provided withthe iprojecting stop 15 to limit the movement 0 the piston to the left,and the cap is screw threaded to the main casing 1 in the manner shownin Figure 2. The edge of the cap is also provided with the overhangingedge 16 for engaging the outside surface of the edge of the casing 1.Without this overhanging edge 16 it has been found that the main casingis somewhat deformed when the cap 2 is screwed down tightly, whichdeformation is undesirable in an apparatus of this type as itnecessarily causes the distortion of the cylinder 11, and prevents thepiston from fitting properly therein. It will be seen that theoverhanging edge 16 prevents the edge of the casing from spreading whenthe cap is screwed down tightly and constitutes an additional means forholding the outer end of the cylinder 11 in absolutely fixed position.In mounting the device the neck 17 is ordinarily engaged by a projectingbracket and this bracket is engaged by means of the clamping nut 18.This provides a very desirable support for the valve, as the support isadjacent the base of the valve casing, which is the stiffest portionthereof, and such support is in substantial alinement with the righthand edges of the portions of the valve to which the admission andoutlet pipes are coupled. This is important as in installing the deviceconsiderable force is often applied to one side of the valve or theother in coupling the admission and outlet pipes thereto which forcetends to distort the casing and consequently the cylinder 11 and as aresult the piston does not work freely in such cylinder. As the stickingof the piston in the cylinder at an inopportune time may cause thedestruction of the heater, it will be seen that the provision of anarrangement whereby the danger of deformation of the cylinder is reducedto a minimum constitutes a very decided advantage.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2, the outlet isclosed, and the rod 3 is in such position as to close the gas valve. Ifnow any faucet connected to the out-let 8 is opened, the pressure on theright hand side of the piston & is reduced by virtue of the escape ofthe water on such side through the port 13 more rapidly than water canenter through the smaller port 12, and as a result the pressure on theleft-hand end of the piston which is substantially constant, pushes thepiston to the right permitting of a flow of water through the port 10,and causing the operating rod 3 to open the gas valve. The parts willremain in this relation until the outlet is closed, at which timepressure will gradually accumulate on the right hand side of the pistonbecause of the small port 12, and the spring 5 will return the piston toclosed position as shown in Figure 2, which movement causes theoperating rod 3 to out off the gas supply. One of the principaladvantages in placing the small port 12 at the lower portion of thecylinder 11, is that it permits of the thorough draining of thecylinder. The pipes connected to the admission passage 7 are providedwith a drain cock, and when the water supply is cut off and this cock isopened, all of the water in the outlet passage 8 and the pipes connectedthereto flows down through the ports 12 and 13, which flow of water issuflicient to carry away all the dirt orgrit which may have collectedinside of the cylinder and which if left there would eventually causethe piston to cut out the cylinder so that it would leak. It will benoted that the positioning of the port 12 at the lower portion of thecylinder 11 gives an opportunity for the entire contents of the cylinderto be. removed. The members 19 constitute stops for engaging the edge ofthe piston 4 and preventing its movement too great a distance to theright.

. lowing the larger of which connects the interior of the cylinder withthe outlet passage, a piston in the cylinder for governing the firstmentioned port, and so positioned with respect to the said port thatwhen the piston is in forward position the water flows across the rearface thereof, yielding means for normally holding the piston in positionto close said port and a governing rod for a gas valve mounted to movewith the said piston, the said ports of different size lying to thefront of the piston and the flow of water therebetween being independentof the main flow of water between the admission and outlet passages.

2. A water valve comprising a casing provided with admission and outletpassages, a port connecting the passages, and a horizontal cylinderhaving a pair of ports of less capacity than the first port, one ofwhich is in the lower part of the cylinder wall and connects theinterior thereof with one of the passages and constituting a drainagepassage and the other of which connects the interior of the cylinderwith the other passage, a piston in the cylinder for govern ing thefirst mentioned port, yielding means for normally holding the piston inposition to close said port, and a governing rod for a gas valve mountedto move with the said piston.

3. A water valve comprising a casing provided with admission and outletpassages, a port connecting the passages, and a-horizontal cylinderhaving a pair of ports of different size of less capacity than the firstport, the smaller of which is in the lower part of the cylinder wall andconnects the interior thereof with the admission passage, and the largerof which connects the interior of the cylinder with the outlet passage,a piston in the cylinder for governing the first mentioned port,yielding means for normally holding the piston in position to close saidport, and a governing rod for a gas valve mounted to move with the saidpiston.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence ofthe two subscribed witnesses.

JNo. P. REINEGKE.

Witnesses:

J. C. BRADLEY, ARoHwoR'rrr MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissionerof Patents, Washington, I). C.

